Switch-operating mechanism.



N0. 790,939. PATENTED MAY 30, 1905. J. G. WALDO & J. J. FORSTER.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

FIBJ- wrrnsssss: W; (I. 10 14 mvzm-ons mw din 1 Atty's UNITED STATESPatented May 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. lYALDO, OF SHARPSBURG, AND JOHN J. FORSJTER, OF AVALON,PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPEC FICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,939, dated May 30,1905.

Application filed January '7, 1905.

Be it known that we, Juice (1. Mime, residing at Sharpsburg, and J OIINJ. FORSTER, residing at Avalon, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented or discoveredcertain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, ofwhich improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements inelectrically controlled switch-operat ing mechanism, and has for itsobject a construction and arrangement of parts whereby the reciprocationof the core or armature of an electromagnet will effect a movement ofthe switch, the movement of the switch in both directions resulting frominward shifting of the armature or core.

it is a further object of the invention to provide for the automaticlockingof the movable switch-rail in its two positions.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the railway-track having amovable switch member and mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the switch-operating mechanism, and Fig. 3 is alarge plan view of a portion of the mechanism.

In the practice of our invention the switchtongue or movable member 1 isconnected by a link 2 to a movable bar or rod 3, such bar or rod passinginto the box 4., containing the switch-operating mechanism, throughstufiingbox 5. The electrical magnet employed for operating the switchis preferably made in the form of a solenoid 6, inclosed within a caseor shell consisting of a body portion 7, on which the heads 8 screw.After the coil has been placed within the shell, insulating mate rial,such as molten paraifin, is poured into the shell through one of theopenings formed in the head 8 for the reception of the insulating-tube9, through which passes one of the terminals of the coil. The core 10 ofthe solenoid moves back and forth in a brass sleeve or tube 1 1,extending through the heads Serial No. 240,061.

8 and forming a tight joint therewith through 5 the medium of thepacking-rings 12. The core 10 is connected to a sliding plate 13, onwhich is mounted a pawl 11, provided with shoulders and 16, adapted toengage respectively and alternately with arms 17 and 55 18, pivotallymounted in bearings 19 on the bottom of the box 1, as clearly shown inFig. 2. The arms 17 and 18 are connected by links 20 and 21 to oppositeends of the lever 22, which has an arm 23 extending rearwardly 60 andpivotally connected to a swinging head 24:. This head is pressed towardthe lever by a pivotally-mounted spring 25, so that when the arm 23passes beyond a line passing through the pin 26, which serves as abearing 5 for the spring and the pivotpoints of the head 25 and lever22, the spring will serve to force the arm and lever in one or the otherdirection dependent on its preliminary movement. as shown to the slidingswitch-rod 3.

As the sliding plate 13 is pulled to the left the shoulder 16 willstrike against the arm 18, and through such arm shift the lever 22 to aposition at an angle to that shown in Fig. 3. 75

In this position the pin 27 of the lever 22 will be shifted forward, sothat when the sliding plate moves back to the right a finger 28 on thepawl 14 will strike against the pin, thereby shifting the pawl to such aposition that 0 the shoulder 15 will lie in the plane of the arm 17, sothat on the next movement of the slide to the left the shoulder 15 willstrike against the arm 17, shifting said arm and the lever 22 to theposition shown in Fig. 3. slide moves back again to the right the finger29 on the pawl will strike against the pin 30 on the lever, shifting thepawl to the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to provide a lock for the switch- 9 rail and its operatingmechanism in both positions, a dog 31 is pivotally connected to astationary part of the machine in such position that the projection 32thereon will lie in the path of movement of the shoulder or 001- 95 lar33 on the extension 3 on the rod 3. An arm 3& 18 secured to the slide 13in such position that when the slide moves to the left One of the arms,as 17, is connected As the it will strike against a portion of the dog31, as the roller 35, lifting the dog and projection 32 out of the pathof movement of the collar 33, thereby permitting the sliding rod 3 tomove to the right. As this arm passes from under the roller the dog willdrop into the rear of the collar 33, preventing any reverse movement ofthe movable tongue 1 without a corresponding movement of theswitch-operating mechanism.

As shown in Fig. 2, the return movement of the core to the right, or themovement during which the switch-rail is not moved, is effected by aspring 37, as shown in Fig. 2.

We claim herein as our invention 1. A switch mechanism having incombination a movable part or member, two pivotallymounted armsconnected to such part or member, a sin'gleacting motor, a slide movableby said motor, a dog or pawl mounted on the slide and adapted toalternately engage said arms, and means operative on the movement ofsaid arms to shift the pawl or dog, substantially as set forth.

2. A switch mechanism having in combination a movable part or member,two movable arms, a connection from said arms to the movable member, alever connected to the arms, a single-acting motor, a slide movable bythe motor, a dog or pawl mounted on the slide and adapted to alternatelyengage the arms and means operated bythe lever for shifting the pawl,substantially as set forth.

3. A switch mechanism having in combination a movable part or member,asingle-acting motor, means interposed between the mov able part andmotor for imparting alternately opposite movements to the part or memberand a lock for holding the movable part or member in both positions andmeans operative on the preliminary movement of the motor to shift thelock, substantially as set forth.

4:. A switch mechanism having in combination a switch-tongue, twomovable arms connected to the switch-tongue, a motor, a slide movable bythe motor and adapted to be alternately connected to the arms, a lockfor holding the tongue in both positions and means for shifting thelock, operative on the preliminary movement of the slide, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

JAMES C. WALDO. JOHN J. FORSTER.

WVitn esses CHARLES BARNETT, FRED KIROHNER.

